With temperatures soaring, JP Hospital’s paediatric ward and PICU are full, leaving just two emergency beds. Twenty-four children are currently admitted with heat-related illnesses, including pneumonia and food poisoning.
Doctors report that high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration are becoming alarmingly common among children. Two infants are in critical condition with pneumonia. The extreme heat is creating a breeding ground for bacteria, making food spoilage and infections more likely.
Medical practitioners warn that children consuming panipuri, fast food, and lemon water from street vendors are at higher risk. Food hygiene and hydration are now vital for prevention.
A two-and-a-half-month-old baby admitted on 23 March had to be placed on a ventilator for a week. The case began with a lung infection that worsened into pneumonia. Doctors stress that sweat and unwashed hands increase infection risks in this weather.
Doctors also advise precautions for all age groups amid growing risks of sunstroke and heatstroke. If body temperature hits 104°F, it could lead to kidney failure or brain stroke.
According to data, stomach-related illnesses spike during summer. In May 2024 alone, 800 people were hospitalised in Bhopal for severe abdominal pain.
In a related incident on Saturday, tens of students at the prestigious Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) fell ill after consuming food from the college kitchen.
